NYC & Pinstripe Bowl -- Here Come the Irish!

While the Yankees were negotiating big contracts with Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann -- they also found time to convince the University of Notre Dame to bring their show to the Big Apple.

Word broke yesterday afternoon that the Fighting Irish would spend the holidays in New York City -- playing OUTDOORS in Yankee Stadium on December 28th in the fourth annual Pinstripe Bowl.  Here's the news stories:

LINK:  CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Domer Takes on U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Mike McNally '77 -- CEO of Skanska USA, Inc. was just awarded the U.S. Green Building Council Award for "Leadership in the Private Sector."

McNally was lauded for his decision to take on the American Chemistry Council's attempt to water down green building standards in the construction industry.  When the U.S. Chamber of Commerce started supporting the chemical industry's lobbying efforts -- McNally asked them to stop.  When they didn't he publicly pulled dropped Skanska's membership which gained a great deal of national attention to this issue...

Here's the story  on the award -- along with a video of Mike and a link to an op-ed piece Mike wrote in the Washington Post about about this situation.

LINK:  STORY

LINK:  VIDEO

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST -- OP ED

UPS Driver on Today Show -- Huge ND Fan!

NBC's Today Show produced a story on Tom Camp -- a 73 year-old UPS delivery man who has never missed a day of work or, had an accident while driving his BROWN TRUCK for 51 years!

Then to add to his story -- he's a huge NOTRE DAME FAN!

The Today Show sent out one of their correspondents to Livonia, MI to ride along with Tom.  You'll enjoy this story.  

I want to give a shout-out to John Sequerth (UPS Communications executive) who's a long-time friend and ND GO IRISH BLOG regular for alerting me to this story.  Thanks John!

LINK:  TOM CAMP -- UPS DRIVER / NOTRE DAME FAN

Coach Kelly's Interview with CNNSI Tuesday

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly has been making the rounds with the media the past 24 hours -- here's a clip from his interview with CNNSI:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Chuck Martin Introduced as Miami Head Coach

Former Notre Dame assistant football coach Chuck Martin was introduced today as the head football coach of the Miami Redhawks.  Here's a video replay of his introductory press conference:

LINK:  CHUCK MARTIN

TV Tonight: #4 Notre Dame vs. #10 Penn State

Muffet's Fighting Irish will make an appearance on the Big Ten Network this evening at 7:30 PM ET as they take on Penn State in the ACC / Big Ten Challenge.  Should be a good test, as Penn State is coming off "back to back" Big Ten Championships.  The Nittany Lions have only lost one game this season -- to #1 UCONN.

Fun fact -- Penn State is coached by Coquese Washington (photo above) '92, '97 --  former Associate Head Coach of the Irish and a "double domer."  Coquese earned a bachelors in history in 1992 and a law degree in 1997.


LINK:  PENN STATE TALKS TONIGHT'S GAME

Skylar Named "Sportswoman of the Year"

Just a few minutes ago in New York City -- former Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins was honored by the March of Dimes as SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR!

Former Yankee great Mariano Rivera was named SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR.

Congratulations Skylar!

LINK:  NICE HONOR FOR SKYLAR

Brian Kelly on the Tim Brando Radio Show

Brian Kelly made the rounds with a number of the sports talk shows yesterday -- here is his interview with Tim Brando.  Coach Kelly talks about Everett Golson, bowl games, the ACC and this season.

LINK:  COACH KELLY WITH TIM BRANDO

Brian Kelly's Appearance on Dan Patrick Show

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly was a guest today on the Dan Patrick Show -- just click on the link below:

LINK:  DAN PATRICK SHOW

Chuck Martin Named Miami (OH) Coach Today

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chuck Martin will be announced today as the next head football coach at Miami University (OH).  Congratulations Coach Martin!

Coach Martins' introductory press conference will be at 2:30 PM ET -- tomorrow.

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Notre Dame Working With ACC on Schedule...

The commitment Notre Dame made to play five football games a year against ACC opponents goes into effect next season.  As you might imagine, this has brought about some major challenges for the ND Athletic Department as they try to make this happen...

Sounds like a solution might be we only play four ACC teams next year -- in exchange for a season, in the next three that has six ACC teams on the schedule.  Here's the story:

LINK:  SCHEDULING CHALLENGES

Notre Dame Re-Files Lawsuit Against Mandate

The University of Notre Dame will re-file a lawsuit against the federal government today regarding the Obama administration's controversial contraceptive mandate.  Here's the story:

LINK:  NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER

OT: The Little Drummer Boy -- MUST SEE!

The a cappella group Pentatonix just released a music video of their unique rendition of The Little Drummer Boy -- a must see, must hear!

Pentatonix is the 2011 winner of NBC's The Sing Off -- an annual competition of the top a capella groups in the country.


LINK:  THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

OT: USC Hires Sarkisian to Replace Lane Kiffin

Word broke this afternoon that USC has hired Steve Sarkisian -- the head football coach at the University of Washington -- to be the next coach of the Trojans.  Sarkisian, only 39, is a former assistant coach for USC during the Pete Carrol era.

The Irish Catholic -- who was a QB at BYU -- was 34 - 29 as Washington's head coach.

I grew to like Sarkisian when he left Los Angeles for Seattle -- I guess those days are over...

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES STORY

LINK:  LA TIMES -- PLASCHKE 

LINK:  SEATTLE TIMES 

LINK:  ESPN

Coach Kelly With Team After Loss to Stanford

This is a must see for all fans of Notre Dame football.  Please click on the link below.

LINK:  STANFORD ICON

Game Highlights -- Notre Dame vs. Stanford

Here's a look at some of the highlights from Notre Dame's 27 - 20 loss to #8 ranked Stanford last night.

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS

Coach Brian Kelly's Post Game Presser

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media last night after the loss to Stanford.  As you'll hear -- the Stanford band made things tough in the interview room.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Irish Lose to Stanford -- End Up 8 - 4 in 2013

The "Injured Irish" put up a fight tonight -- but it wasn't enough as Notre Dame's last two offensive possessions ended with interceptions in a 27 - 20 loss to Stanford.

Notre Dame will now await word on where they'll be playing in a bowl game.  A possibility could be the Poinsettia Bowl -- Thursday, December 26th -- in San Diego against Boise State.  Stay tuned...

Here's the quick media reaction to tonight's game:

LINK:  LOS ANGELES TIMES

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  NBC NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Photo of Notre Dame Football Leaving Hotel

Here's a photo just "tweeted" by #NDFootball of the Fighting Irish leaving their hotel for the game with Stanford.  GO IRISH!

Notre Dame Lacrosse: Colorado Training Trip

The Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team took a trip a few weeks ago to Colorado Springs to train, take on the Air Force Academy and then watch the football team play the Falcons.  Here's a video that captures this experience:

LINK:  ND MEN'S LACROSSE